Apex court indicts Daniyal Aziz for contempt of court

The Supreme Court (SC) indicted on Tuesday Federal Minister for Privatization Daniyal Aziz over his anti-judiciary remarks.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Azmat Saeed resumed the case, as Aziz appeared before the top court. Justice Mushir Alam read out the charges against the minister, local media reported. Aziz was indicted under Article 204 of the country’s constitution. The constitutions states that the person be punished if he has committed contempt of court.

However, the minister has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The hearing has been adjourned till March 26, when the SC will record testimonies from prosecution witnesses.

SC directs Daniyal Aziz to obtain record of his contemptuous statements

On March 3, Aziz had submitted his reply to the SC saying that he had always been respectful to the courts and had never violated the code while talking about any pending case

In his reply, Aziz also said that the media had reported his talks out of the context and false reporting had always brought negative consequences.

Aziz had been issued a show cause notice by the SC on February 19. On February 2, the SC had taken a suo motu notice against Aziz's contemptuous remarks and had summoned him to the top court.